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| Rick Ross surrendered to Miami Beach police on October 1 and was booked on felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery charges. (rick-ross-arrested-domestic-violence-miami-beach.jpg) |
Last updated: October 2, 2026
Rick Ross was arrested Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Miami Beach on a felony charge of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge, both classified as domestic violence. The 50-year-old rapper, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was released the same day after posting bond. He denies the allegations and is scheduled for arraignment on October 22. Everything described below is an allegation, and none of it has been proven in court.
Rick Ross Arrest: Quick Facts
Who: Rick Ross, 50, legal name William Leonard Roberts II
Charges: one count of felony battery by strangulation and one count of misdemeanor battery, both tied to domestic violence
Arrested: Thursday, October 1, 2026, after surrendering to Miami Beach police
Booked: Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m., according to Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation
Alleged incident: August 28, 2026, at his Star Island home in Miami Beach
Reported to police: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Bond: set during a video bond court appearance; he was released the same day
Plea: not guilty, according to court records cited by TMZ
Next court date: arraignment on October 22
Defense attorneys: Steve Sadow and Bradley Horenstein
Why Was Rick Ross Arrested?
Ross turned himself in to Miami Beach police on Thursday morning, two days after a woman filed a report accusing him of attacking her at his Star Island mansion. Police say the report describes an argument on August 28 that turned physical. He was booked on a felony count of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor count of battery, and jail records list both charges as involving domestic violence.
The timing matters. The woman did not go to police on the day of the alleged incident. According to the report, she contacted authorities on September 29, about a month later, and Ross surrendered within 48 hours. His attorneys have made that gap a central part of their response, which is covered below.
What Does the Arrest Affidavit Allege?
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| Booking photo of Rick Ross, who has pleaded not guilty and is due in court for arraignment on October 22. (rick-ross-mugshot-miami-dade-corrections.jpg) |
The Miami Beach Police Department arrest affidavit, as reported by NBC News, ABC7, CBS Miami and other outlets, lays out the complainant's account. These are her claims, not findings of fact.
She told detectives she had been in a relationship with Ross for about a year and was living with him at the time.
She said Ross became angry because she had been tagged in an Instagram photo, accused her of lying to him, and slapped her across the face when she denied it.
She said he grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her against a wall.
She said he restricted her breathing by twisting the collar of her clothing.
She said she eventually got out of the home, then returned after Ross left to collect her belongings.
Detectives said they were made aware of possible video footage connected to the incident. Reports do not say whether that footage has been obtained or what it shows.
The footage detail is worth watching. If video exists and is entered as evidence, it could carry significant weight in either direction as the case moves forward.
Who Is Jazzma Kendrick?
Jazzma Kendrick is Ross's former girlfriend. She is a Miami-based content creator and model with a background in real estate, according to USA Today. In late September, days before the arrest, she posted on Instagram a photo of an injured lip with a caption saying it was from the day she left Ross. In another post she wrote that he saw her as a "punching bag."
Here is where accuracy matters. The police report identifies the complainant only by initials, and some outlets report that the affidavit refers to Kendrick by her initials and last name, while others note that police have not publicly confirmed her as the complainant. The injuries Kendrick described match those in the report, but a public match is not an official confirmation. Until authorities say otherwise, the careful way to put it is that Kendrick has publicly accused Ross of abuse and that her account appears consistent with the police report.
What Has Rick Ross Said?
Ross denies everything. After being released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, he told reporters he was "totally innocent" of what he called fabricated allegations, and he repeated the statement in a video on his Instagram Story. He also told the cameras he planned to be in Dubai on Friday and Paris on Saturday, and that his Sunday plan involved rigatoni with heavy marinara.
His attorneys, Steve Sadow and Bradley Horenstein, said in a statement that Ross is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose motivations are unclear. Sadow added that she did not file a police report until a month after the claimed incident, and that Ross has pleaded not guilty. The defense is asking the public not to prejudge the case and to let the court process run its course.
How Much Was Rick Ross's Bond, and Is He in Jail?
No, Ross is not in jail. He appeared by video before Judge Mindy Glazer in bond court, wearing a jail uniform and accompanied by Horenstein, and he was released later the same day.
Outlets differ on the exact figures. Several reports say bond was set at $5,000 on the strangulation charge and $1,000 on the battery charge, for $6,000 total. CNN reports bail of $5,000 for the two counts, and USA Today cites a $1,000 bond. If you need the precise figure, the Miami-Dade court record is the authoritative source. The reports reviewed for this article do not detail any conditions attached to the release, including whether travel is restricted.
What Does "Battery by Strangulation" Mean Under Florida Law?
Florida law treats this charge as serious, which is why it stands out in Ross's case. Under Florida Statute 784.041, a person commits domestic battery by strangulation by knowingly and intentionally impeding another person's normal breathing or blood circulation, against that person's will, by applying pressure to the throat or neck or by blocking the nose or mouth. The victim must be a family or household member or someone in a dating relationship with the accused, and the act must create a risk of great bodily harm or cause it.
The statute classifies the offense as a third-degree felony. Under Florida's general sentencing rules, a third-degree felony carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, though actual sentences depend on the facts, the defendant's record and other factors. The separate misdemeanor battery count is a first-degree misdemeanor in most cases, which carries up to one year in jail.
A charge is not a conviction. Prosecutors must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt, and Ross is presumed innocent.
Rick Ross Domestic Violence Case Timeline
August 28, 2026: The alleged incident takes place at Ross's Star Island home, according to police.
Late September 2026: Kendrick posts on Instagram, accusing Ross of physical abuse and sharing a photo of an injured lip.
Tuesday, September 29: A woman files a report with Miami Beach police.
Thursday, October 1, early morning: Ross surrenders and is booked at 6:10 a.m. on felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery.
Thursday, October 1, afternoon: Ross appears in bond court by video, posts bond, leaves jail and tells reporters he is innocent.
October 22, 2026: Arraignment scheduled in Miami.
What Happens Next in the Rick Ross Case?
The next scheduled event is the October 22 arraignment, where the charges are formally read and a plea is entered. TMZ reports that court records already show a not-guilty plea. After that, the case would typically move through the exchange of evidence between prosecutors and the defense, possible pretrial motions and hearings, and then either a negotiated resolution or a trial.
Several things are worth following. Whether the possible video footage surfaces and what it shows. Whether prosecutors file formal charges that match the arrest charges. Whether Kendrick's account is confirmed as the basis of the case. And how the defense uses the one-month delay in reporting. This article will be updated as new filings and statements come out.
Ross's Prior Legal History
Ross has faced criminal charges before. In 2015, he was charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and aggravated battery over an incident involving a groundskeeper at his Atlanta-area estate, according to reports from that time and CNN's coverage of the current case. That case is separate from the current allegations, and it is mentioned here only as background.
Rick Ross Arrest: Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Rick Ross arrested?
He was arrested October 1, 2026, on felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery charges, both domestic violence related, over an alleged August 28 incident involving a woman he was in a relationship with.
Is Rick Ross in jail?
No. He was released the same day after posting bond.
Is Rick Ross guilty?
No. He has not been convicted of anything. He has pleaded not guilty according to court records, and he is presumed innocent.
When is Rick Ross's next court date?
His arraignment is scheduled for October 22, 2026.
Who is the woman accusing Rick Ross?
Police identify the complainant only by initials. His former girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick has publicly accused him of abuse, and her account appears consistent with the report, but police have not publicly confirmed her as the complainant.
What did Rick Ross say after his arrest?
He said he is totally innocent of fabricated allegations, and his attorneys said he is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose motivations are unclear.
What is the penalty for battery by strangulation in Florida?
It is a third-degree felony, which carries up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine under Florida's general sentencing rules.
Sources: Miami Beach Police Department arrest affidavit as reported by NBC News, ABC7 New York, CBS Miami, Local 10, WSVN, USA Today, Rolling Stone, The FADER, TMZ and CNN; Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation booking records; Florida Statute 784.041. This report covers allegations only. Rick Ross is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.